The Crown Prosecution Service have confirmed that a Liverpool fan has pleaded guilty to committing a homophobic hate crime at last year's FA Cup final.
The Reds took on Chelsea in the showpiece event at Wembley, with Jurgen Klopp's side going on to win on penalties. But Paul Boardman, 34, from Sefton was not able to see any of the match after he was caught shouting homophobic abuse at Blues fans.
The abuse in question was the 'Chelsea rent boy' chant, which Mirror Football revealed last year would be classed as a hate crime. The Liverpool fan was heard shouting the chant at Wembley Park Underground Station while on his way to the final.
Police officers prevented him from entering the stadium by seizing his ticket before he was given a dispersal order. He was later interviewed and pleaded guilty to using threatening words or behaviour to cause harassment alarm or distress, contrary to Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986.
The defendant pleaded guilty at his first hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court and was then sentenced at the same court on December 5. Boardman was fined £400, which was increased by £100 to reflect the hate crime. He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £40.
Douglas Mackay, the lead sports prosecutor for the CPS, insisted this case can serve as a "timely reminder" that homophobic chanting will be prosecuted and encouraged other supporters to report offenders.
“Boardman was stopped from watching his team win the FA Cup as he directed homophobic chants to Chelsea fans ahead of one of the biggest games in the sporting calendar," Mackay said in a statement given to Mirror Football.
“This case serves as a timely reminder that homophobic chanting can be, and has been, prosecuted and can lead to a criminal record and a lasting impact.
“The CPS will continue to work closely with the police, football authorities and fan groups to stamp this out to make sure that football is a game for everyone and not one that discriminates against anyone. We call on football fans to report incidents of hate crime and other abuse to the football clubs and the police.”
The chant has become notorious over the past seven days after it was heard being sung at three separate matches. The first incident came during Nottingham Forest's draw at Chelsea last Sunday.
The chant was then aimed at Everton manager Frank Lampard during his side's defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Friday. And it was also heard at Chelsea's hammering at Manchester City on Sunday.
The Football Association are investigating all three incidents. In a statement given to Mirror Football after the chant was heard at Forest, the governing body insisted they were intent on driving it out of the game.
"We strongly condemn the use of the term “rent boy” and we are determined to drive it out of our game. We continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service, as well as the UK Football Policing Unit, in relation to the use of this term," an FA spokesperson told Mirror Football.
"Part of our work in this area has been to provide the relevant authorities with impact statements from LGBTQ+ supporters, detailing how chants of this nature affects their experience and feeling of inclusion at football matches, so that a clearer stance and understanding on the chant can be established.
"We stand firmly against all forms of discrimination and we are striving to ensure our game is a safe environment for all, which truly embraces diversity and challenges hateful conduct both on and off the pitch."
